Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10729 on March 30, 2018, designating April 2018 as Second Chance Month. The proclamation encouraged Americans to recognize the importance of rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals with criminal records. It had no direct operational effect on criminal justice policy, sentencing, or clemency powers—it was a symbolic designation calling attention to second chance opportunities.
On March 23, 2018, President Trump signed a memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to develop a policy prohibiting transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military. The directive reversed the Obama administration's 2016 policy that permitted transgender service members to serve openly. The memorandum required the military to return to a policy denying service to transgender individuals, effective implementation began in April 2019.
On February 20, 2018, the Trump administration issued a memorandum directing the Department of Justice to apply the statutory definition of "machinegun" to bump fire stocks and similar devices that increase a semi-automatic weapon's rate of fire. The action effectively banned the sale and possession of these devices by classifying them as illegal automatic weapons under existing law. Americans who owned bump fire stocks were required to destroy them or surrender them to authorities, with a compliance deadline set for March 26, 2019.
President Trump signed Proclamation 10551 on January 19, 2018, designating January 22, 2018 as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. The proclamation is an annual observance that calls attention to the value of human life. As a proclamation, it has no direct legal effect on policy or Americans' legal rights, but serves as an official statement of the administration's position on the issue.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-01234 on January 16, 2018, designating January 16, 2018, as Religious Freedom Day. The proclamation reaffirmed the administration's commitment to protecting religious liberty and called for Americans to reflect on religious freedom. The proclamation itself is ceremonial and does not establish new legal restrictions or protections; it serves as a statement of presidential position on religious freedom.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-00099 on December 29, 2017, designating January 2018 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The proclamation calls for awareness and recognition of efforts to combat human trafficking and modern slavery in the United States. The proclamation itself does not create new law or direct policy changes, but directs federal agencies and the public to recognize and commemorate anti-trafficking efforts during the designated month.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2017-20895 on September 22, 2017, designating a day of observance for Gold Star mothers and families. The proclamation calls for flags to be displayed and directs Americans to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities honoring military families who have lost loved ones in service. The proclamation established an annual observance but created no new federal programs, funding, or institutional changes.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2017-18541 on August 25, 2017, designating August 26, 2017 as Women's Equality Day. The proclamation commemorates the 97th anniversary of women's suffrage under the 19th Amendment. It is a symbolic observance with no direct operational impact on federal policy or programs.
On August 25, 2017, President Trump signed a memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to prohibit transgender individuals from serving in the military. The memorandum halted the Obama administration's policy allowing transgender service members to serve openly and directed the Department of Defense to reinstate the ban on transgender military service. Approximately 8,600 to 15,000 transgender service members were affected.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13798 on May 4, 2017, directing the Department of the Treasury to issue guidance on the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits tax-exempt organizations including churches from engaging in political campaign activity. The order instructed the IRS not to take enforcement action against tax-exempt organizations based solely on their political speech. The confirmed effect was that religious organizations gained increased latitude to engage in political activity without risking their tax-exempt status.